Case Study: Mercy Health Foundation builds a $1M+ NICU fundraising platform with Storyfolk’s Born Brave appeal

Mercy Health Foundation builds a $1M+ fundraising platform with Storyfolk

The Mercy Health Foundation faced the challenge of raising visibility and securing long-term philanthropic funding for its world-class neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Despite its clinical excellence, the work remained largely unseen by the public, which limited donor engagement and investment. The foundation partnered with Storyfolk to create a flagship fundraising and advocacy platform capable of generating over $1 million in sustained support.

Storyfolk developed the "Born Brave" platform, a comprehensive storytelling and fundraising system centered on the powerful narrative that babies in the NICU are born brave. The solution included a visual identity, the "Mercy & Friends" character framework to explain complex care, and a multi-channel toolkit. This approach transformed awareness into lasting belief, providing Mercy Health Foundation with a scalable, long-term strategic asset that strengthened donor confidence and clarified the need for ongoing support.

Mercy Health Foundation